HOUSTON ROCKETS (16-17)

at DENVER NUGGETS (19-13)

Tip-off: Monday, 9:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Denver -7, Total: 218

Denver looks to win its fourth straight win when it hosts Houston on Monday night. The Rockets have won six of eight games, but are 0-3-1 ATS in their past four games. Basketball scores.

Houston is 10-5 since Dec. 3, but none of those wins have been against a team with a winning record. Kevin Martin is averaging 25.7 PPG on 49% FG in those 10 wins, but those numbers have dipped to 19.0 PPG and 43% FG in the five losses.

Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony returned to action Saturday after missing three games to mourn to death of his sister. He only made 6-of-22 shots in the 104-86 win over Sacramento, but he finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony has only made 41% of his shots in his career versus Houston, which is the lowest FG Pct. against any opponent. Chauncey Billups scored 78 points during Anthony’s three-game absence and has averaged 25.0 PPG on 59% FG (43-for-73) in his past six games. Denver could also get a boost from the possible return of PF Al Harrington who has missed the past three games with a dislocated thumb. Harrington had 28 points and 10 rebounds at Houston on Oct. 30, when Denver rode out of town with a 107-94 win. Basketball odds.

The two teams have split the past eight meetings, with Denver holding a 5-3 ATS advantage. The FoxSheets show two reasons to expect Houston to keep the game closer than seven points.

Play On – Road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (HOUSTON) – hot team – having won 6 or 7 of their last 8 games, with a winning percentage of between 45-55% on the season. (61-29 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.8%, +29.1 units. Rating = 2*).

Play On – Road teams (HOUSTON) – explosive offensive team – scoring 103+ points/game on the season, after a blowout loss by 15 points or more. (77-42 over the last 5 seasons.) (64.7%, +30.8 units. Rating = 2*). Basketball spreads.

This FoxSheets trend also expects the game to finish Under the total:

Play Under – All teams where the total is greater than or equal to 210 (HOUSTON, DENVER) – in a game involving two good three point shooting teams (>=36.5%), in a game involving two average rebounding teams (+/-3 reb/game). (92-40 over the last 5 seasons.) (69.7%, +48 units. Rating = 3*).